Fuse panel assembly for mounting varying size fuses

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a versatile fuse panel assembly which includes a block adapted to accommodate any sequence of predetermined long and short cartridge fuses such as, for example, 30 and 60 amp cartridge fuses. The panel assembly includes an insulating-material fuse panel block adapted to receive a buss bar-like connector along one edge, and has means thereon for receiving a first respective row of a plurality of either 30 or 60 amp cartridge fuse clips electrically attached to the connector. Parallel to that edge of the block and spaced-apart therefrom are a plurality of second rows of fuse connector-receiving means. For example, the block can be designed to accommodate a plurality of both 30 and 60 amp fuses. The second 30 amp row of fuse connector receiving means is relatively close to the buss bar situs and the second 60 amp row is further away from the buss bar situs, each row being spacedapart from the buss bar a proper distance so that the appropriate fuse holders can be attached, during assembly of the panel, along the respective rows to provide proper spacing for receiving the desired fuses between respective pairs of fuse clips. The versatile fuse panel assembly makes it possible to custom assemble a panel for almost any combination, sequence or configuration of 60 and 30 amp fuses without the extra tooling costs associated with fabricating a special panel for each combination. Thus, the manufacturer&#39;&#39;s representative can offer such custom panel assemblies at a predetermined and economical price regardless of configuration for any quantities and for any combinations comprising the predetermined size fuses, e.g., 30 and 60 amp fuses.

United States Patent 1191 Ege [ Nov. 26, 1974 1 FUSE PANEL ASSEMBLY FORMOUNTING VARYING SIZE FUSES [75] Inventor: Hans Ege, Des Plaines, 111.

[73] Assignee: Underwriters Safety Device C0.,

Chicagg lll.

[22] Filed: Sept. 27, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 401,412

[52] US. Cl. 317/116, 339/219 F, 337/256 [51] Int. Cl. 1102b 9/00 [58]Field of Search 337/256, 260, 261, 268;

174/52 R, 53, 59, 139, 145, 177; 317/114, 116, 118; 339/150 F, 219 F,252 F, 253 F, 256 C, 258 F, 259 F, 262 F, 263 L, 265 F,

Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer Assistant ExaminerGerald P. TolinAttorney, Agent, or F irm-Lockwood, Dewey, Zickert & Alex [57] ABSTRACTDisclosed is a versatile fuse panel assembly which includes a blockadapted to accommodate any sequence of predetermined long and shortcartridge fuses such as, for example, 30 and 60 amp cartridge fuses.

The panel assembly includes an insulating-material fuse panel blockadapted to receive a buss bar-like connector along one edge, and hasmeans thereon for receiving a first respective row of a plurality ofeither 30 or 60 amp cartridge fuse clips electrically attached to theconnector. Parallel to that edge of the block and spaced-apart therefromare a plurality of second rows of fuse connector-receiving means. Forexample, the block can be designed to accommodate a plurality of both 30and 60 amp fuses. The second 30 amp row of fuse connector receivingmeans is relatively close to the buss bar situs and the second 60 amprow is further away from the buss bar situs, each row being spaced-apartfrom the buss bar a proper distance so that the appropriate fuse holderscan be attached, during assembly of the panel, along the respective rowsto provide proper spacing for receiving the desired fuses betweenrespective pairs of fuse clips.

The versatile fuse panel assembly makes it possible to custom assemble apanel for almost any combination,

sequence or configuration of 60 and 30 amp fuses without the extratooling costs associated with fabricating a special panel for eachcombination, Thus, the manufacturers representative can offer suchcustom panel assemblies at a predetermined and economical priceregardless of configuration for any quantities and for any combinationscomprising the predetermined size fuses, e.g., 30 and 60 amp fuses.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures FUSE PANEL ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING VARYINGSIZE FUSES This invention relates to a versatile fuse panel assembly'which utilizes a fuse panel block of insulating material adapted toaccommodate any parallel arrangement or lateral sequence ofpredetermined amperage cartridge fuses. This invention provides acompact versatile cartridge fuse panel assembly which can be utilized inthe manufacture of electric furnaces, boilers, heaters, and the like.

Although electric furnaces, boilers, heaters and the like aremanufactured in relatively large numbers by individual manufacturers,the volume of this business in terms'of the numbers of units produced issufficiently small that tooling costs associated with the manufacture ofcustom made fuse panel blocks and other custom-made components tends tobe relatively high on a per-unit basis.

In addition, depending on the specific requirements of the particularmodel of furnace, boiler, heater and the like, the fuse panel assembliesmay require provision for use of all 60 amp fuses, all 30 amp fuses, orany one of many possible combinations of these cartridge fuses. Forthepurpose of providing economies and efficient wiring arrangementwithin the manufactured unit, it may be desirable to provide a fusepanel assembly having a particular sequence of 60 and 30 amp cartridgefuses arranged from side-to-side.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a versatile fusepanel block which provides the capability of assembling on the one fusepanel block an assembly comprising any combination of 30 and 60 ampfuses, and to provide a fuse panel assembly in which the desiredcombination of 30 and 60 amp fuses does not involve interference of thefuses with each other.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a fuse panelblock, and a fuse panel assembly which makes it possible to customassemble almost any combination of different amperage fuses such as, forexample, any combination of 30 and 60 amp fuses, without the extratooling associated with fabricating a special panel for each desiredcombination pattern.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fuse panelblock, and a fuse panel assembly which is extremely versatile, and whichcan be easily manufactured in very large quantities, and which can beused to custom assemble any desired combination of fuses wherein thefuse panel assembly manufacturers representative can offer apredetermined price, regardless of configuration, for any combinationscomprising the predetermined amp fuses.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a versatilefuse panel assembly which utilizes a single configuration versatile fusepanel assembly block regardless of configuration pattern or sizes of thecartridge fuses to be assembled thereon, wherein the fuse panel assemblymanufacturer can maintain a simplified inventory in that only aversatile single configuration fuse panel block item need be stocked inorder to supply blocks for all the custom assemblies, and in order toprovide the capability for custom assembling the many desiredconfigurations of the 30 amp and 60 amp fuses, for example.

These and other objects which will be apparent hereinafter are allachieved in accordance with the present invention which is describedherein in connection with particularly preferred embodiments, and withthe aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a top plan view of a fuse panel assembly in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an edge view taken towards the bottom edge of the assembly asshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view taken towards the left side of the assembly asshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately along the line 4-4in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately along the lines 55of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of a lower right-handportion of a panel assembly as shown in FIG. 1 but showing analternative buss bar assembly; and

FIG. 7 is an edge fragmentary view of the structure shown in FIG. 6,taken towards the edge shown at the bottom of FIG. 6.

In accordance with the present invention, a fuse panel assembly utilizesa fuse panel block of insulating material adapted to receive a bussbar-like connector along one edge thereof, and having means thereon forreceiving a plurality of various amperage fuse connectors or clipselectrically attached thereto wherein the first clips are arranged alonga first row parallel to that one edge. The fuse panel block alsoincludes a plurality of second rows of fuse connector receiving means,wherein the respective second rows are also parallel to that edge of theblock. The respective second rows are spaced-apart from the first rows aproper distance so that appropriate fuse holders attached to the blockalong the respective rows provide proper spacing for receivingrespective fuses, e.g., 30 amp, 60 amp, or the like, between respectivepairs.

Although the present invention is illustrated by the description of theparticularly preferred embodiment in which-the fuse panel assembly canaccommodate all 30 amp, all 60 amp, or any combination of 30 and 60 ampcartridge fuses, it will be appreciated that the invention is notlimited thereto, and that the panel block can be arranged, if desired,to accommodate a larger number of types of cartridge fuses, anddifferent amperage fuses.

Referring now to the drawings, a fuse panel assembly in accordance withthe present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10. The fusepanel block fabricated from insulating material is indicated generallyby the numeral 12. Along a first edge 13 of block 12 are situatedrelatively large connector means l4, l6, and 18. Connectors 14 and 16can be regarded as buss bars, and connector 18 is adapted to accommodatea single circuit. It is noted the embodiments illustrated in thedrawings, and particularly in FIGS. 1 and 6, are presented merely forillustration, to show that there is great flexibility in the arrangementand size of the buss bars, and great versatility in the configuration ofthe fuses and circuit distribution from the respective input connectors.

As seen in FIG. 1, a plurality of respective 60 amp energized fuse clips20 and a plurality of respective 30 amp energized fuse clips 22 areshown electrically connected to respective connectors 14, 16, or 18.These respective clips 20, 22 include fuse cap-engaging means 24, 26respectively, and respective tongues 28, 30. Respective tongues 28, 30are integral with clips 20, 22, respectively, and are in directelectrical contact with respective electrical connectors 14, 16, or 18and are secured thereagainst, to fix respective connectors 14, 16, or 18with respect to block 12, by suitable fastening means such as screws 32.

Fuse clips 20, 22 are secured to block 12 by means of suitable fasteners36, 38, respectively, which pass therethrough and are tightly receivedin respective recesses 40, 42. Recesses 40, 42 are circular and are sosized that fasteners 36, 38 are self-tapping when seated therein.

Referring now to FIG. 4, fuse clips 20 are relatively large, and thefastener-receiving recess 40 is spacedapart from buss-bar recess 34 by agreater distance than the distance between small clip recess 42 andbuss-bar recess 34. The distance between recess 42 and recess 34 issmaller in order to accommodate the relatively small 30 amp fuse clips22, 22. Thus, relatively large recesses 34 (see FIG. 4) are arranged ina line, or a rank, transversely across the fuse panel block and parallelto edge 13. A second parallel rank or line of relatively small recesses42 are spaced transversely across the block 12, and a third parallelrank or line of recesses 40 are spaced transversely across the blockalso. It is desirable to have separate relatively large and smalldiameter recesses 40 and 42 along these ranks of recesses only whenrelatively large and relatively small diameter fasteners 36, 38 areused. Otherwise, if the fasteners 36, 38 are to be of the same diameter,a single rank of recesses corresponding to the rank of recesses 40 orrank of recesses 42 can be employed.

It is noted that these recesses are also situated in file, that is, in aconfiguration wherein respective sets of recesses are aligned along astraight line between an input edge 13 and a distribution edge 43 of theblock 12.

This rank and file arrangement is an important aspect of the presentinvention. When used herein, the term rank refers to the side-by-sidearrangement of similar components, or structural features, along a linewhich extends transversely across the panel 12, that is, along a linewhich is substantially parallel to edge 13. As used herein, the termfile refers to the linear arrangement of respective components orstructural features along a line which passes perpendicularly betweenedges 13 and 43.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, the preferred block in accordance withthe present invention includes on the mounting face, which is generallyindicated by the numeral 46, barrier bosses 48, 50 and 52. The firstbarrier boss 48 includes a transversely extending portion 54 andpeninsulas 56. Transverse portion 54 is parallel to the ranks of theopenings 40, 42, that is, parallel to edge 13 and peninsulas or fingers56 are parallel to file lines, that is, perpendicular to edges 13, 43.

Each boss 52 also includes a transverse portion 58 parallel to edges 13and 43, and a file portion 60, that is, the portion of boss 52 which isperpendicular with respect to edges 13, 43.

Boss 50, in the preferred illustrated embodiment is a single elongatedridge rectangular in cross section extending along a line parallel toedge 13, and positioned between bosses 48 and 52.

An apparent recess 62 is thus formed between portions 54 of barrier boss48 and transversely extending barrier boss 50. A plurality of openings64 (see FIGS. 1 and 4) are provided in recess 62 for the purpose ofreceiving fasteners (not shown) therein for mounting block 12 to asuitable support (not shown).

- Although these openings 64 are in a rank inasmuch as they arepreferably positioned in the elongated recess 62 between barriers 48,50, it is not essential that openings 64 be arranged in file that is,under a line drawn through the respective sets of structures andrecesses.

In the illustrated embodiment, two relatively small fuse clips 70, 70are positioned against barrier 50, and are secured against face 46 ofblock 12 and fixed with respect to block 12 by suitable fastening meanssuch as fastener screws 72, 72 which are received in snugly fittingrecess 73. Recess 72 is a "dead-end recess sized to snugly receivefastener 73 therein whereby fastener 73 is self-tapping when driven homeinto recess 72.

A rank of relatively large dead-end recesses 74 are provided inrespective files with respective recesses 72 to accommodatelead-fastener screws 76 by means of which electrical leads (not shown)are electrically secured to cartridge fuse clips 70, 70. It is notedthat transversely extending portions 58, 58 of bosses 52 have a gaptherebetween at each of the file lines, and these gaps accommodate thepositioning of the electrical leads which can be secured to the smallerfuse clips 70, 70.

In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of relatively large fuseclips 80, 80 are arranged along edge 43 and are secured against block 12to face 46 and against respective opposing portions of respectivebarrier bosses 58, 58, by means of suitable fasteners 82 which passthrough the respective faces 83 of clips 80. Fasteners 82, 82 aretightly received in dead-end recesses 84, 84 which are sized to causeself-tapping seating of fasteners 82, 82 therein as fasteners 82, 82 aredriven home. Respective cartridge clips 80 include respective tongues 86to which suitable means for securing electrical leads to clips 80 areprovided, e. g., screws 88 which are received in large recesses 90 orblades 92 of quickconnect fasteners. In this regard, it is noted thatsmaller cartridge fuse clips 70 can utilize either electrical leadfastener screws 76 or blades 96 for quick-connect fastener systems toelectrically connect wires (not shown) to clips 70.

Again, it is noted that respective recesses 34, 40, 42, 72, 74, 84, and90 are arranged in respective ranks transversely, that is parallel withedges 13; and each respective set of recesses 34, 40, 42, 72, 74, 84 and90 is arranged along a line extending perpendicular to edges 13, 43.

Thus, a subset of these recesses including a respective recess 40, 42,72, and 84 is provided to secure respective pairs of clips 22, 70, for30 amp fuses, and respective pairs of clips 20, 80 for amp fuses. Eachrespective sub-set of recesses 40, 42, 72, and 84 is positioned along afile line extending perpendicular to edges 13 and 43 to accommodate orreceive, in each set or file, respective fastening means 36, 38, 73, 82for securing energized small fuse clips 22 or an energized large fuseclip 20 and respective small fuse clip or a respective large fuse clip80, whereby a cooperating pair of small fuse clips 22, 70 or acooperating pair of large fuse clips 20, can be positioned inoverlapping regions along each respective file line. Also, it will beappreciated from a consideration of FIG. 1 that the elevated ridgereferred to above as barrier 48 delineates the marginal region of face46 adjacent edge 13 to which the energized clips 20, 22 are secured, andthat respective barriers 50 and 52 delineate regions of face 46 in whichrespective ranks of clips 70, and 80 are secured to face 46 of block 12.

Referring now to the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 4 and 5, it will beappreciated that block 12, in accordance with the present invention, canbe manufactured as an integral element, for example, by injectionmolding, an insulating plastic material in a mold cavity (not shown)constructed to provide a face panel 100, dependent peripheral skirts102, and a plurality of posts 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, intowhich respective recesses 34, 42, 40, passageway 64, recesses 72, 74,84, and 90 extend, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, the block 12in accordance with the present invention is readily and economicallymanufactured in large quantities, and the relative sizes of the recesses34, 42, 40, 64, 72, 74, 84, and 90 are pre-determined by correspondingsizing of mold elements (not shown).

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l-S, inclusive, the respectiveenergized buss connectors 14, 16, and single wire connector 18 areseparate from each other, wherein three separate energized leads areutilized. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, for example, twobuss-bar connectors 120, 122, each of which corresponds to connector 14shown in FIGS. 1-5, utilize and are electrically connected therebetweenby a bridging conductor 124. In such an arrangement a single energizedelectrical wire is secured to either buss bar 120, 122.

I claim:

1. A mounting block for a fuse mounting panel assembly adapted to retainpluralities of varying size fuses in parallel side-by-side relation infile thereon and adapted to mount varying input electrical connectionsthereon, said mounting block comprising: a mounting surface adapted toreceive fuse clips for fastening to the ends of fuses, terminalconnectors, buss bars, and fasteners in varying numbers andorientations, said mounting surface including means adapted forfastening said panel to an external member, a plurality of fuse clipmounting means located in ranks parallel to one side of said surface andalso located in files perpendicular to said one side, a primary rank ofsaid mounting means adapted to receive mountings for input fuse clipsfor fastening to one end of either of short and long fuses, a pluralityof secondary ranks of mounting means, one of said secondary ranksadapted to receive mountings for output fuse clips for fastening theother end of short fuses, another of said secondary ranks adapted toreceive mountings for output fuse clips for fastening to the other endof long fuses, said secondary ranks located in spaced apart relationfrom said primary rank, said secondary rank for receiving output fuseclips of short fuses being located between said primary rank and saidsecondary rank for receiving output fuse clips of long fuses, firstraised transverse barrier means for increasing the surface path of anyelectrical are between any input and output fuse clips which may bemounted on said surface, said first transverse barrier means locatedbetween said primary rank of mounting means and said one secondary rankof mounting means for output fuse clips of short fuses, second raisedtransverse barrier means for increasing the surface path of anyelectrical arc between any output fuse clips for short fuses and anyoutput fuse clips for long fuses which may be mounted on said block,said second transverse barrier means located between said secondaryranks of mounting means for output fuse clips, a plurality of in-lineraised barrier means between portions of said files of said mountingmeans for increasing the surface path of an electrical are between fuseclips mounted in separate files, segments of said in-line barrier meanslocated between said input fuse clip mounting means and extending fromsaid first raised transverse barrier means toward said one side of saidsurface, a substantially flat area across said mounting surface betweenthe ends of said segments of in-line barrier means and said one sidewhereby said block is adapted to mount a plurality of combinations ofeither of input buss bars and terminal connectors connectible to anyinput fuse clips mounted on said block.

2. The mounting block of claim 1 wherein said fuse clip mounting meansincludes a mounting hole for receiving a fuse clip fastener, and asecond hole in said surface adjacent to said mounting hole in filetherewith adapted to receive the end of a terminal connector fastenerattachable to said fuse clip.

3. The mounting block of claim 1 wherein said mounting holes areself-threading.

4. The mounting block of claim 1 wherein said first raised transversebarrier means includes a pair of wall structures located in parallelspaced relation to each other and a rank of holes in said mountingsurface between said walls adapted to receive said fastener means formounting said block to an external member.

5. The mounting block of claim 1 wherein said second raised transversebarrier means includes notched cut-outs in each file adapted formounting a terminal connector to each of said output fuse clips formounting a short fuse which may be mounted on said block. =l

1. A mounting block for a fuse mounting panel assembly adapted to retainpluralities of varying size fuses in parallel side-byside relation infile thereon and adapted to mount varying input electrical connectionsthereon, said mounting block comprising: a mounting surface adapted toreceive fuse clips for fastening to the ends of fuses, terminalconnectors, buss bars, and fasteners in varying numbers andorientations, said mounting surface including means adapted forfastening said panel to an external member, a plurality of fuse clipmounting means located in ranks parallel to one side of said surface andalso located in files perpendicular to said one side, a primary rank ofsaid mounting means adapted to receive mountings for input fuse clipsfor fastening to one end of either of short and long fuses, a pluralityof secondary ranks of mounting means, one of said secondary ranksadapted to receive mountings for output fuse clips for fastening theother end of short fuses, another of said secondary ranks adapted toreceive mountings for output fuse clips for fastening to the other endof long fuses, said secondary ranks located in spaced apart relationfrom said primary rank, said secondary rank for receiving output fuseclips of short fuses being located between said primary rank and saidsecondary rank for receiving output fuse clips of long fuses, firstraised transverse barrier means for increasing the surface path of anyelectrical arc between any input and output fuse clips which may bemounted on said surface, said first transverse barrier means locatedbetween said primary rank of mounting means and said one secondary rankof mounting means for output fuse clips of short fuses, second raisedtransverse barrier means for increasing the surface path of anyelectrical arc between any output fuse clips for short fuses and anyoutput fuse clips for long fuses which may be mounted on said block,said second transverse barrier means located between said secondaryranks of mounting means for output fuse clips, a plurality of in-lineraised barrier means between portions of said files of said mountingmeans for Increasing the surface path of an electrical arc between fuseclips mounted in separate files, segments of said in-line barrier meanslocated between said input fuse clip mounting means and extending fromsaid first raised transverse barrier means toward said one side of saidsurface, a substantially flat area across said mounting surface betweenthe ends of said segments of in-line barrier means and said one sidewhereby said block is adapted to mount a plurality of combinations ofeither of input buss bars and terminal connectors connectible to anyinput fuse clips mounted on said block.
 2. The mounting block of claim 1wherein said fuse clip mounting means includes a mounting hole forreceiving a fuse clip fastener, and a second hole in said surfaceadjacent to said mounting hole in file therewith adapted to receive theend of a terminal connector fastener attachable to said fuse clip. 3.The mounting block of claim 1 wherein said mounting holes areself-threading.
 4. The mounting block of claim 1 wherein said firstraised transverse barrier means includes a pair of wall structureslocated in parallel spaced relation to each other and a rank of holes insaid mounting surface between said walls adapted to receive saidfastener means for mounting said block to an external member.
 5. Themounting block of claim 1 wherein said second raised transverse barriermeans includes notched cut-outs in each file adapted for mounting aterminal connector to each of said output fuse clips for mounting ashort fuse which may be mounted on said block.